Barely hanging onto the rest of Western Europe from the southwest, Spain’s geography prompted its unique cultural history, complete with Catholic dominance, Muslim influence and Jewish presence. Though the history proved tumultuous for all parties, this clash of communities made Spain one of Europe’s earliest melting pots, with diverse influences still palpable today. No other Spanish city exemplifies this collision of influences as well as Granada, Spain’s modern epicenter of Muslim history. At the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Granada continues to attract tourists from around the world for its Spanish charm, natural beauty and unparalleled past.

Spain is a country of division, with Basque separatists dying to create their own nation, Catalonians fighting for autonomy and four recognized languages in addition to its official language. To understand a traditional view, Spain’s southern region of Andalusia evokes a stereotypical vision of the Iberian Peninsula, complete with tapas, bullfights and flamenco.

Granada, along with nearby Seville, oozes this traditional image of Spain that’s expected by most tourists. Here, people eat late, drink slowly and enjoy a calmer pace of life than their countrymen in Madrid or Barcelona. Street performers fill streets where outdoor life bustles, encouraging tourists to enjoy pitchers of sangria, chat and take in the city’s intimacy. Typically, every drink you order comes with a plate of tapas, so it’s easy to spend time hopping from one bar to another.

Gypsy culture still prevails, which alludes to days when Spain was a stomping ground for immigrants who easily managed to sneak into Europe through the country’s southern tip.

For those wanting to know Spain intimately, extend your stay in Granada for as long as possible. Cosmopolitan nightclubs and trendy restaurants aren’t this city’s bag. Instead, flamenco guitarists play to small crowds, waiters greet you by name and flamenco dancers twirl in intimate venues, inches away from your feet.

A thriving young life, both Spanish and international, continues to pulsate through Granada, much of which is due to the local university’s influence. Furthermore, the cost of living in Granada is much lower than that of most other cities in Spain, making it easier to call this place home. People here are welcoming to foreigners, though English is scarcer here than in other European cities, which isn’t necessarily bad for those wanting to learn Spanish.

Not far from Granada, the Sierra Nevada Mountains provide endless outdoor opportunities such as hiking, camping and world-class skiing. Don’t forget to bundle up, though -- winter months are chilly.